442 DR ANDERSON ON THE COLOURING MATTER 



resorted to had I possessed a larger quantity. The sublimed crystals were simply 

 washed with ether, in order to remove empyrenmatic matters, and then dried at 

 21 2°. Analysis gave the following results : 



I '629 grains of morindone gave 

 3-931 ••• carbonic acid, and 

 0-614 •■• water, 



which approximates most nearly to the formula C,, H,o Ow, as is shewn by the fol- 

 lowing comparison. 



Experiment. Calculation. 



Carbon, . . . 6581 6511 C,a 2100-0 



Hydrogen, . . 4-18 3-87 Hio 1250 



0.x:ygen, . . . 30-01 31-02 Oi„ 1000-0 



100-00 100-00 3225-0 



Of course, it is impossible to consider a formula as established by a single ana- 

 lysis upon so small a quantity. I think it probable, however, that that given 

 above may be the true one, and that the excess of carbon was due to imperfect 

 separation of empyreumatic matters, as, to avoid loss by solution, I washed with 

 the smallest possible quantity of ether. That morindone is formed from morin- 

 dine by the elimination of water, derives confirmation from the change which the 

 latter substance undergoes in contact with sulphuric acid. As already mentioned, 

 it then becomes insoluble in water, and gives a violet colour with alkalies similar 

 to that produced by morindone, and as sulphuric acid in general acts by removing 

 water, the probability is, that it has deprived the morindine of 5 equivalents, and 

 converted it into morindone ; at the same time this is a point which can only be 

 determined by analysis, and the quantity which I obtained was not nearly sufiR- 

 cient for that purpose. Should further experiments establish C „ H,„ Oi,, as the 

 true formula of morindone, we have another simple relation with the madder 

 colouring matters, as it would differ from madder red by a single equivalent of 

 water, the formula for that substance, according to the analysis of Schikl, being 

 C,3 H,, 0,,. It would also be polymeric with gentianin, for which Baumert* has 

 established the formula C^ H, O.^ 



Morindone is a true colouring matter, and is capable of attaching itself to 

 common mordants. It gives with alumina a deep rose red, and with iron violet 

 and black ; but the colours are not very stable, and it has a strong tendency to 

 attach itself to the unmordanted parts of the cloth, and to degrade the white. 

 Morindine, after treatment with sulphuric acid, is capable of attacliing itself to 

 ordinary mordants. 



The discovery of a peculiar colouring matter capable of fixing itself exclu- 



* Annalen der Chimie und Pharmacie, vol. Ixii., p. 106. 



